Quiet Times–not

With the USA gang off, we are on our way into Toronto to do some dog sitting – yes, our 4 legged grandchild Kasey. Terri & Mark are off to Chicago for a weekend away to celebrate their 6 year wedding anniversary and we offered to dog sit – we had an ulterior motive. We wanted to wash our draperies and the roman shades in the rig, a big job that took 2 days. We were able to get them washed and thanks to dry weather, hung under their gazebo to dry.

 

 

 

 

This also gave us some time to kick back and relax, Barb working on her hand embroidery, finding time to cut the lawn and me holding down a patio chair. While we were in town, we took the opportunity to help Corrie do some wiring changes in her basement. We’ll do almost anything for a free meal! Our last night at Terri’s, Kasey and us were entertained by a family of raccoons walking along their fence.

 

 

 

 

 

While we waited for the drapes to wash or dry, Barb utilized their high speed internet and took a couple of quilting courses. Always planning – she is too organized, she needed to learn to cut/sew circles for an upcoming project so that was one of the lessons she took online.

We arrived back at the campground, got set up and then were off to Terri’s cabin in Western New York for the long weekend. They were kind enough to put up with us again so soon. We asked to visit with them as this park is too noisy on the long weekends with loud music and people – not pleasant after 11PM at night. This is a family campground with a few seniors but all the activities (parties) are geared for the weekenders. We try to make ourselves scarce when the long weekends come around and Terri’s cabin is a good spot to go.

With extra hands around, Mark wanted to collect some firewood, so up their small mountain we go to cut, stack and trailer back to the cabin to stack again. Thank goodness for chainsaws, ATVs and a trailer. The first time up the small mountain was good but the second time, the mountain is bigger! As a reward to ourselves for making it back down, we played a round of golf and had a great time but did not expect to move too quickly the next morning!

 

 

 

 

 

On our way home on Monday, we stopped to pick up a few caches in Ellicottville. We picked 4 to find, hoping to give Terri & Mark a first hand experience in our new little hobby. It took us 20 minutes or so to find the first one around the town Library. We all searched high and low and were almost ready to give up but after carefully reading the clues, we scooped it up. If you were only 3 foot high, it would have been an easy find.  We continued on to the second one. We were not as lucky and did not find the second or third cache that we had picked – maybe when the foliage clears in the fall we’ll try again. The fourth was also a bit tricky but due to my watchful eye, we found it right where we were looking. The GPS took us right to the location but we could not find the cache. We all looked around the location, moved the rocks and checked all the bushes that were in a 50 foot radius but no cache. As I was walking back to the location where we had all scoured, I noticed that the orange reflector only had 1 nail holding it down. I walked up and moved the reflector aside and voila, there, in a hole drilled in the post was our elusive cache! We all had a good laugh at this. We followed Terri & Mark to the Pearl Street Grill, a brew pub in Buffalo for dinner and to wait out the long lines at the border. We didn’t wait long enough, the crossing took more than an hour due to the volume of Canadians returning home. By the time we got back to the campground, all the dust had settled from the busy weekend and all was back to our normal quietness.

We hope all is well out there with you, where ever you are.

Plantation Buds Visit

Holy quilt days, Barb’s quilting buddies are coming in for a visit – I guess the guys will find something to do! We do have fun together and I’m sure you will agree when you read our adventures over the next couple of days. Originally, Dick & Marcia wanted to come over and asked if it was possible to pay Bill & Ann a visit while here. We strung her along and contacted Bill & Ann to see if they wanted to surprise Dick & Marcia by coming over too. They were happy to help plan the surprise so emails were flying. Their drive time was a little shorter than Dick & Marcia’s so Bill suggested they arrive earlier so they could get set up and we could be sitting back with a beverage when they arrived. The event was planned.

All was on schedule, Bill & Ann arrived, we had hugs all around and then we left them to set up. Barb & I don’t like to set up with others waiting – leads to rushing and making mistakes so we try to do the same for others. Once set up, we all got our chairs and awaited the arrival of Dick & Marcia.

We were anticipating a terrific surprise but the surprise was on us. What we didn’t count on was the campground office. I had made the reservations for both but did not tell the office that it was a surprise. Yep, you guessed it, when Dick & Marcia checked in, the office informed them that the other guests had already arrived! It was still a happy re-union of our Plantation buds, hugs all around and lots of chit chat – and of course some beverages.We didn’t plan anything for their travel day, sitting under an awning was the order for the rest of the day with snacks and lots of catch up. As custom, the travellers do not make dinner, we had them back to our rig for a BBQ and stuff.

 

 

 

We gathered at Dick & Marcia’s rig for morning coffee. The weather was not co-operating so we had to adjust our plans a little. We decided due to possible rain, our outdoor excursions would be dampened so we decided to flip the days and we did a car tour of the area which included – yes, a quilt shop, a pub, Tiffany Water Falls and then into Hamilton to the ‘Garment District’ where there are lots of sewing and fabric shops. Because we made an unplanned pub stop, we couldn’t stop for a walk around. Naturally, the girls accused the guys of conspiring the change so they couldn’t shop! We continued through Dundas to the overlook of the Burlington Skyway and Dundas Valley, always inspiring.

 

 

From here, we wanted to make sure they got a flavour of Toronto’s rush hour traffic by driving into Terri & Mark’s for dinner. After a busy day and a very nice evening, we headed back to the campground but everyone was too exhausted and cramped from 6 adults – arguably – cramped into our truck for the day!

Wednesday, we took our coffees to Bill & Ann’s rig – it was coolish weather so we went inside. Oh-h-h, the smell of freshly baked scones, thanks Ann.  We had a busy day ahead so we all got going quickly from our coffees. Our first stop was Mimico Park on the waterfront for a picnic lunch. Oh look, an ice cream truck, I love it when a plan comes together. After we devour our picnic, we load back up in the truck and head on further into Toronto. We found a city bus tour on double deckers that included a boat ride through the lagoons of the Toronto Islands for less than $30 each – what a deal. We highly recommend it if you want to see some of Toronto while seated.

 

 

 

We had to wait for a couple of buses and did not get seats up top right away but soon enough to enjoy most of the tour of Toronto on a bright and sunny day. The tour guides were humorous enough while providing real information. As the bus made it’s way back to the stop at the harbour, we got off for the short walk down to the boat for the ‘Island Cruise’. Now none of our ladies can claim that we don’t take them to the islands!

 

At the end of the busy day, we made it back to one of our favourite eating spots in Waterdown, The Royal Coachman – oh look, it’s another pub! After another terrific meal and some Guinness, we made it back to Bill & Ann’s to put a dent in his Maker’s Mark he picked up at the Duty Free.

 

 

 

Well, it`s a sad time as the ‘gang’ are head’n to their respective homes in Western New York and Michigan. We hosted the usual hitch-up breakfast, we don’t want them going hungry on the trip home.  Our neighbors, Randy & Norma, joined us for the good-bye breakfast.

In short time, they start to break camp and Bill & Ann get the 5’er connected and Dick & Marcia collect all their connections and stow the necessary items in the motorhome. We all agree that we need to do this again next year and after warm hugs, they are on their way. It was a terrific 2 1/2 days.